The majority of the existing theories explaining deductive reasoning could be included in a classic computationalist approach of the cognitive processes. In fact, deductive reasoning could be seen to be the pinnacle of the symbolic computationalism, its last fortress to be defended in the face of new, dynamic, and ecological perspectives over cognition. But are there weak points in that position regarding deductive reasoning? What would be the reasons for which new perspectives could gain in credibility? What could be their most important tenets? The answers given to those questions in the paper include two main points. The first one is that the present empirical data could not sustain unambiguously one view over the other, that they are obtained in artificial experimental conditions, and that there are data that are not easily explainable using the traditional computationalist paradigm. The second one is that approaching the deductive reasoning from dynamic and ecological perspectives could have significant advantages. The most obvious one is the possibility to integrate more easily the research regarding the deductive reasoning with the results obtained in other domains of the psychology (especially in what respects the lower cognitive processes), in artificial intelligence or in neurophysiology. The reasons for that would be that such perspectives, as they are sketched in the paper, would imply, essentially, processes of second-order pattern formation and recognition (as it is the case for perception), embodied cognition, and dynamic processes as the brain ones are.

Are there reasons to challenge a symbolic computationalist approach in explaining deductive reasoning

:Procedural texts consist of sequences of instructions designed to reach an objective. The usermust follow step by step the instructions in order to reach the results expected. In this paper, weexplore the different facets of natural argumentation used in such texts that reinforces the plan-goal structure.Keywords: procedural texts, plan-goal structure, natural argumentation.Resume: Les textes proceduraux sont composes de sequences d’instructions visant a atteindre un objec-tif. L’utilisateur doit suivre etape par etape les instructions pour atteindre les resultats souhaites.Dans cet article, nous explorons les differentes facettes de l’argumentation contenue dans cegenre textuel servant a renforcer la structure plan-but des textes proceduraux.Mots-cles: textes proceduraux, structure plan-but, argumentation. Introduction Procedural texts consist of a sequence of instructions designed with some accuracy inorder to reach an objective (e.g. assemble a computer). In our perspective, procedural textsrange from apparently simple cooking receipes to large maintenance manuals (whose paperversions are measured in tons e.g. for aircraft maintenance). They also include documentsas diverse as teaching texts, medical notices, social behavior recommendations, directionsfor use, do-it-yourself and assembly notices, itinerary guides, advice texts, savoir-faire guides,etc. In most types of procedural texts, in particular social behavior, communication, etc.procedural discourse has two dimensions: an explicative component, constructed aroundrational and objective elements (goals and plans), and a seduction component whose goalis (1) to encourage the user, (2) to help him revise his opinions, (3) to enrich the goals andthe purposes, by outlining certain properties or qualities or consequences of a certain actionor prevention. This seduction component closely associated with the rational elements,forms, in particular, the argumentative structure of the procedural text. Prepublication n°2 Fascicule n°1

Eyvind Ohm

Papers

The relationship between formal and informal reasoning